Stamp Collecting Abbreviations
Stamp collecting has its own terms and language. When you are first starting these seem daunting, but once you understand them and can relate them to your own stamps, they become much easier to understand.
Here is a quick reference table of the most commonly used stamp collecting abbreviations. It is not an exhaustive list but it will get you started.
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Description |
| CV | Catalogue Value | How much the stamp is worth according to the catalogue which may vary depending on which catalogue is being referred to. |
| F | Fine | A grading to the quality of the stamp and may refer to the centering of the stamp in relation to the perforations |
| FV | Face Value | How much the stamp is for postage cost i.e. 1c or 20c stamp. |
| FDC | First Day Cover | A commemorative envelope marking the first day of issue of a new stamp |
| F-VF | Fine-Very Fine | A grading to the quality of the stamp and may refer to the centering of the stamp in relation to the perforations |
| HH | Heavily Hinged | Has marks on the back of the stamp where it has been previously place in an album |
| HR | Hinge Remnant | Shows faint marks or parts of hinge |
| LH | Lightly Hinged | Barely visible markings of previously being hinged |
| MNH | Mint Never Hinged | A stamp in perfect uncancelled, never used condition which has never been hinged and shows no markings of being hinged ever. |
| OG | Original Gum | Has the original gum still present on the back of the stamp. Is usually shiny in appearance compared to a dull surface on the back of the stamp which may indicate it was previously on paper |
| PB | Plate Block | A block of stamps of 2 or more which because they are still together with perforation would come from the same printing block |
| SCV | Scott Catalogue Value | Scott is one of the standard pricing guide catalogues used for valuations of stamps worldwide. SG will refer to Stanley Gibbons who is also considered a world authority on stamp valuations |
| VF | Very Fine | A grading to the quality of the stamp and may refer to the centering of the stamp in relation to the perforations |
| VLH | Very Lightly Hinged | Shows signs of previously being hinged but only very light |
If there’s something that you need more of an explanation on please let me know.
